Radiator alarm



J. G. NOLEN. RADIATOR ALARM. APPLIATl0N FILED MAR. 10, 1919.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

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JAMES G. NOIIEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RADIATOR ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

Application filed March 10, 1919. Serial No. 281,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. NOLEN, a citizen of the United States, residin in New York city, in the county of New ork and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

My present device relates to an improved pressure actuated alarm and more specifically relates to the provision of such a means upon the radiators of automobiles, and it may be used in other places for similar pur- The present specific use, as above de scribed, contemplates the provision upon a J radiator at any suitable place, of means whereby when the water-level has become sub-normal or reaches a point where the insufiiciendy of water exposes theradiator core, thereby causing the water to steam, that the steam thus developed shall operate the alarm, thealarm being placed in such position as to be readily heard or observed by the operator of the machine.

Another advantage of my device is the provision of means, in conjunction with the above noted device, whereby the pressure conducting member may be adjusted to suit certain variations in various radiators of otherwise standard make, in orderto maintain its operative efliciency.

In the drawings accompanying herewith, I V

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a radiator, with my device applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view of my device in its preferred form.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a radiator 1 comprising, normally, an outer casing or body, generally denoted by 1-, and into which is set, soldered or otherwise satisfactorily connected thereto, the radiator core or cell body 2. In all radiators, the radiator core body terminates at or about the line 3, thereby forming the bottom floor 3' for the water storaging space or chamber 4. 5 is a water filler cap for the radiator commonly found on most radiators of the class described, and the construction of the, spout and cap therefor is'so commonly used that it need not here be described.

6 represents the customary overflow pipe, whereby expansion of the water during running, or too much water, during filling, is carried away, being permitted to flow to the ground from its open end 7.

8 is the customary pet-cock for draining radiators in the usual manner.

In Fig. 2 my device is shown attached to a radiator filler cap 5, and it may be connected to any other suitable part of the radiator, although the first noted method is the preferred form of attachment.

My device proper consists of a whistle generally denoted by 10, the base portion of which has attached thereto, integrally or otherwise, a stem portion 11, the lower end of which is threaded a sufficient distance to meet the requirements, as at 10.

The interior of said stein portionis bored out to receive therein a suitable sealing tube 12, the said tube being soldered to the stem 11 in order to form a water and air-tight joint, although any other suitable method may be used.

The tube 12 is open at the lower end and has a narrow slit 13 cut therein for a short distance, say of about 1 inch of its length. It will further be noted that the tube is also bent or off-set as at 14. This bend is placed therein in order to permit the user when he is applying it to any make of car to extend the lower mouth 9 of the tube 1 12 down to and adjacent a predetermined distance of the floor line 3 of the water chamber 4, by straightening the off-set or' bend 14, thereby permitting the tube bottom to be extended downwardly as described.

In use, it is presumed that the Water-level will be at about the line \V-W, Figs. 1 and 2, and so long as the water remains at about this level the device is inoperative. However, should the water be evaporated from the radiator too fast, and should the waterlevel drop to the level marked W Fig. 2, part of the steam generated in the chamber 4 will be carried away by the overflow pipe 6 in the usual manner. Some of the steam, however, will emit through the upper uncovered portion of the slot 13, and the steam thus escaping will flow upwardly through the tube 12 and escape to atmosphere thereby blowing the whistle. If no attention is paid to the alarm thus caused,

as the water still further evaporates away,

water-level, and finally when the water has reached its lowermost level W exposing the full bottom orifice of the tube 13, thesteam,

being generated to a. still greater extent, due to the greater loss of water, escapes with a rush through the tube 13 and causes an alarm that is bound to attract of the operator and warn him. that the water has reached a level that is dangerous and that the radiator must therefore be filled. 1

It is obvious that other types of whistles or pressure actuated alarms may be substituted for the type here shown, and that modifications of the tube and means for causing the steam to be conducted to the pressure alarm device may be utilized Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. Incombination, an automobile radiator having a normally open overflow opening; and a tube secured in the radiator extending to the low water level of the radiator and having a sound signal at its upper end; said tube and signal being, except when obstructed by water open from end to end, said signal being operative by the steam when the overflow opening is open.

2. In combination, an automobile radiator cap; and a tube secured thereto extending to the low water level of the radiator and having a sound signal at its upper end; said tube and signal being, except when obstructed by water open from end to end, said signal being operative by the steam with the water at any level below the low water level.

In combination, a signal device comprising continuously open sound means; and

an open tube communicating with said means and adapted to extend downwardly into a radiator to the low water level; said signal device being, from end to end, normally internally ,free of obstruction, except at times by the water of'the radiator, thereby to permit the passage of steam to the sound means when the water in the radiator is below said level, said signal device being operative on very low steam pressure.

4. Incombination, an automobile radiator; and a signal device comprising a continuously open whistle; and an open tube communicating with said whistle ina water and air-tight manner and extending down.-

wardly into the radiator to the low water level of the radiator; said signal device being normally internally free of obstruction from end to end, except at times by the thereby to permit the passage of steam to the whistle when the water in the radiator is below said level, said signal device being operative on very low steam pressure.

5. In combination, an automobile radiator; and a tube secured therein extending the attention.

to the low water the tube.

6. In combination, an automobile radiator cap; and a tube secured thereto extending to the low water level of the radiator and having a sound signal at itsupper' end; said signal being operative at a pressure insuflicient to force water out through the tube.

7. In combination, an automobile radiator; and a signal device comprising a sound means; and a tube communicating with said means and extending into the radiator to the low-water level of the radiator; said means being normally ing of anefi'ective and audible signal by a steam pressure insufiicient to force water from the radiator to the sound means.

8. In combination, an automobile radiator; and a signal device comprising a whistle; and an open tube communicating with said whistle in a water and air-tight manner and extending downwardly into the radiator to the lowest in the radiator; said signal device being normally internally free of obstruction from end to end, except at times by the Water of the radiator, thereby to permit the passage of steam to the whistle when the water in the radiator is below said level; said whistle being adapted for the giving of an effective and audible signal by a steam pressure insufiicient to force water from the working water-level of the radiator tothe whistle.

9. In combination, an automobile radiator; a cap therefor; an overflow pipe for the radiator having its inlet end just under said cap; and a signal comprising a continuously open whistle above the water level of the radiator; and an open tube communicating with said whistle in a water and air tight manner and extending downwardly into the radiator to the lowest desired level of water in the radiator; said signal device being normally and at all times during operation internally free of-obstruction from end to end, except at times by the water of the radiator, thereby to permit the passage of steam to the whistle when the water in the radiator is below said level; said whistle being adapted for the giving of an effective and audible signal by steam pressure insuflicient to force Water from the working water level of the radiator to the whistle. 10. In combination, an automobile radiator cap having an opening therein; and a signal comprising a continuously open Whistle having a threaded stem disposed air-tight in said opening; a nut in said cap on said stem; and an ooen sealing tube received and soldered \r the lower part of adapted for the giv-' desired level of water said stem in a water and air-tight manner and adapted to extend downwardly to the low-water level of the radiator.

11. A device of. the class described, consisting of a steam alarm device associated with the radiator cap of an automobile radiator, a

steam tube extending below the normal water-level of the radiator and adapted to be sealed by such water against alarm, and to be actuated when the water-level has been lowered thereby exposingthe lower with the radiator cap of an automobile radiator, a normal water-level of the radiator and adapted to be sealed by such water against alarm, and to be actuated when the waterlevel has been lowered by evaporation theresteam tube extending below the by exposingfthe lower end of such extension thereby to cause the alarm to be actuated, said tube being provided with means for adjusting its extending length and having its lower ends slotted.

JAMES G. NOLEN.

Witnesses:

H D. PENNEY, .F. T. SAs'z. 

